Car-wheel



A. L. CARROLL. e

CAR WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.1, 1920.

1,367,800. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

LILA* Hilf HLAAQLI UNTED STATES oFFIcE.

CAB-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed ctober 1, 1920. Serial No. 413,985.

lowing is a speciiication.

The object of this invention is to improve the riding qualities of carwheels and to re,

duce the cost of upkeep by providing a construction which will permitthe worn out tread portion of a wheel to be removed readily from theaxle and a new tread member substituted therefor. The invention alsoseeks to facilitate the lubrication of the car wheel bearing all ofwhich will be hereinafter particularlysetl forth.

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a car wheel embodying my presentimprovements in position upon an axle;

Fig. 2 isa similar view showing a slightly different forni of theinvention.

The car wheel 30 has the usual tread conguration and has its centralportion bored to receive bearings and permit the ready assemblage of thebearings with the axle. At its center, concentric with the central boreor opening, upon the inner side of the wheel is. provided an annularextension or flange 31 having a longitudinally extending annular rib 32.The axle 37 is provided with an annular shoulder or enlargement 38provided with a circumferential groove in which is iitted a felt orother elastic washer 39 which will lit closely against the inner opposedsurface of a casing 4() which extends between the wheels at the oppositeends of the axle and incloses the axle, as shown and as will be readilyunderstood. The housing is provided with a radially exe tending annulariiange 41 through whichA fastening holts 33 are inserted into theextension 31 to secure the housing in place, the edge of the iiange 41tting against the rib 32, as clearly shown, and the end of the housingitting within the bore or.y circular opening of the Wheel. rlhe housingserves to maintain the wheels of a pair of wheels in xed spaced relationso that they will' always properly 'engage the track rails and alsoconstitutes a closure to retain lubricant within the bore of the wheel,the washer 39 preventing the escape of the lubricant into the housing.At the outer side of the annular iiange 38, the axle is provided smoothcircular portion upon Which is itted race rings coacting with similarrace rings fitted within the bore of the wheel, the two race ringsserving to retain anti-friction bearing balls 36 in place. Preferablytwo pairs or sets of race rings are provided and they are spaced apartyby a suitablewasher or collar, 46, as shown. At the outer end of thecircular smooth portion of the axle is a threaded sectionywhich'receives a collar or nut 42 adapted to be turned home against theouter race ring so as to secure the bearings against the flange 38 andthe end ot' the housing "and prevent movement of the 'samelongitudinally upon the axle. Beyond the threaded portion of the axle isanother smooth portion and the extremity of the axle is preferablyangular in cross section so as to be received within a suitablebox orsupport secured upon the car truck. Around the axle, at the outer sideof the threaded portion thereof, is a cap 43 which carries a felt orsimilar washer 44 bearing yclosely against the axle and is provided withan opening 45 through which lubricant may be supplied to the bearing.rThis cap 43 is provided with an annular rib on its inner side whichfits within the central opening of the wheel and against the outer tacering 35, while the edge of the cap bears against the outer side of thewheel and is secured thereto by cap screws or bolts, as shown.I lt willbe noted that the cap 43 fits over the nut 42 and incloses the same sothat it tends to prevent the working loose ofthe nut and lubricant maybe supplied to the bearing through the opening 45 in any preferredmanner. A. convenient lniethod is to till the space surrounding the nutand defined by the cap with saturated cotton waste, but -a constantsupply of lubricant may be utilized by establishing suitable connectionswith a supply reservoir upon any convenient portion ot the car andconnecting said reservoir with the opening 45 through a conveyer havinga joint or section which is movable relative to the tank lout inconstant communication therewith.

ln Fig. 2', l have shown a Jform of the invention in which thev casing40 is omitted and, in lieu thereof, a cap 47 is employed, the teltwasher 39 being arranged within the annular groove or" the enlargement38 and filling the space deiined by the same and the inner circular edgeof the cap. The hub portion or bore of the wheel is .provided with anannuiar radially extending rib or flange 148 at its l inner end whichbears against the adjacent rac'e ringl 35 and the -cap 47 is-securedagainst the inner side yof the wheel by cap screws 49 inserted throughthe cap into the wheel adjacent the edge of 1 the Wheel is no longerfit'for use the wheel may be readily removed from the axle and a newwheel substituted therefor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of a relatively sta tionary car axle provided nearits outer end withv a threaded portion and spaced inwardly from saidthreaded portion with an annular enlargement havingacircumferentialgroove, a wheel having a central opening to receive the axle andprovided at its inner side with an annular extension provided at itsinner extremity with a longitudinally disposed annular rib, race ringsdisposed` about the axlev between the annular enlargement and thethreaded portion of the same, coperating race rings fitted in thecentral opening of the wheel, anti-friction devices held by and betweenthe said race rings, a housing inclosing the axle and having its endconstructed to t within the extension of the wheel and against the adjacent race ring, said housing being provided the washer carried bythecap bearing upon the axle and the washer carried by' the housingfittin'g in the circumferential groove in the enlargement of the axle.

2. The combination of a relativelystationary carv axle provided nearitsouter end 'with Va threaded portion and spaced inwardly from saidthreaded portion withanfannular enlargement having a circumferentialgroove, a Wheel having 'a central \opening to receive the axle, racerings disposed about the axle between the annular enlargement and thethreaded portion, co-l A operating race rings fitted in the `centralopening of the wheel, anti-friction devices held by and between the racerings, a member secured to the inner side of the Wheel and encirclingthe axle, a Washer filling the space between the base of the annulargroove and the inner surface of the said member, a nut tted on thethreaded portion ofthe axle and retaining the race rings thereon, a capsecured to the outer side of the wheel and fitting over said nut andaround the axle, 'anda'washer between said cap and the axle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW L. CARROLL. [a 3.]

